Oil water washer



July 15, 1930.

N. E. FUNK 1,770,736

OIL WATER WASHER Filed Nov. 28, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheec' 1y 17 7 1a 3 2/ 5 J65 if July 15, 1930. I N, E FUNK 1,770,736

I OIL WATER WASHER Filed Nov. 28. 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented my 15, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE nnvm E. FUNK, or PHILA ELPHIA, Immisxnvama on. WATER WASHER.

Application filed November 28, 1924. Serial No. 752,592.

between uses emulsifying means for remov-- ing acidity developing in the oil in order to prevent deterioration incident to this cause.

p the main circuit.

A further-purpose is to treat lubricating oil that is in service but away from its place of use intimately with sufficient water to remove emulsifiable acidproducts.

A further purpose isto provide a lubricating oil circulating system with an auxiliary corrective circuit or circuits including all or a portion of the main circuit and to sludge out and remove in the auxiliary circuit deteriorating oxidation products developing in A further purpose is to prevent the deposition of oil sludge and emulsion in a main oil circulating system by removal of the sludge and emulsion at another point in the system where they can be controlled.

Further purposes will appear in the specification and in the claims.

My invention relates to the processes involved as well as to the specific means illustrated for carrying out these processes- I have preferred to illustrate my invention in one main form of apparatus only,

-' showing minor modifications, and selecting a form of apparatus well adapted to the carrying out of my process and which illustrates particularly well the principles involved.

:Figure 1 is a fragmentary sectional elevation of apparatus and connections adapted to the removal of injurious oxidation products b from'a stream of oil.

Figure 2, t0 reduded scale in side elevation, shows the apparatus of Figure 1 with minor modification connected into the main oil circulating system of a, turbine or other machine.

Figure 2 is a side elevation, a portion of Figure 2 modified in minor detail.

FigureB is a broken view in side elevation to the scaleof Figurel showing the apparatus of Figure 1 modified in minor detail and connected into the main oil circuit of a turbine or other machine.

Figure 3 to reduced scale, is a side tion of a modified fragmentary portion of Figure 3.

Figure 4, to reduced scale, shows in side elevation connections and apparatus for treatment of successive batches of oil.

Like numerals refer to like parts in all figures.

Describing in illustration and not in limitation and referring to the drawings Lubricating oil such as is used to circulate continuously through the bearings. of high duty machinery, of which the best example is afforded by turbines, will gradually oxidize and deteriorate. This oxidation deterioration continues progressively and substantiallyindefinitely so long as the oil is subjected to the influence of heat, air and contact with metal surfaces and particularly if the air be moist. These are general conditions for all machineryand deterioration is due to them, no matter how gradual the deterioration. The conditions of service with respect to these deteriorating influences, and the ability of different commercial oils towithstand oxidation deterioration both vary widely, but in general all such oils in service gradually deteriorate from oxidation into emulsifiable acid products. The proportion of these acid products increases with continued service and as it increases deterioration of the lubricating properties of the oil and sludging and emulsifying of the oil become more rapid.

Slltdges and emulsions in the lubricating system are objectionable primarily in that they clog up passages and reduce heat transfer y coating the coils of oil coolers reducing their efficiency.

I have discovered that this increased rapid ity of deterioration is due to the accumulation of oxidation acid products within the oil and may be prevented by keeping down this acelevacumulation. I thus maintain the excellence of 1 lubnication, increase the life of the oil and; avoid the formation of sludge and emulsions within the main system.

I avoid accumulation within the oil of oxidation acid products by intensively water washing the oil with water in apparatus auxiliary to the oil circulation system, returning the cleaned oil to the main system.

In this intensive water washin the acid products separate as sludge, as elIllIlSlOIlS and as aqueous solutions, which may be thrown away, or at least must not be returned to the main system. Separation of these waste products from the cleaned oil is conveniently efi'ected by centrifuging or filtering or both.

During this intensive washing it is desirable to avoid further oxidation. In practice I have not found it necessary either to wholly exclude air from the oil or to wash With air-free water but I am aware that there will be less sludge to remove and the oil will last longer if air be excluded during the water washing.

The auxiliary apparatus comprises a washer in which the oil under treatment is maintained in intimate and violent contact with water, connections 'for admitting oil and water in proper proportions into the washer, either intermittently or continuously, means fordischarging the mixture of oil, sludge and water from the washer, either intermittently or continuously and means for separating the clarified oil from the mixture and returning it to the main system from which the impure oil has been withdrawn.

The means for clarifying the mixture may be a single centrifuge or a number of centrifuges in series or in parallel, a single col.

loidal filter or a number of colloidal filters in series or in parallel, or any combination of centrifuges and filters in series or parallel or series-parallel; or it may be a hot settling bathwith water outlet at the bottom and oil outlet at the top.

The auxiliary apparatus may operate either [continuously or intermittently upon a continuous or intermittent stream of oil the funnel 14 and are provided with valves;

17 and 18. Thepartitions 11 and 12 are respectively spaced below the 'cover and above the bottom of the box to form with the walls of the box a U compartment '19.

The U compartment is charged with oil and water the proportion of water to oil depending upon the acidity of the oil .under treatment. The pump 20 is then started with the valve 21 slightly open. This draws the liquid charge from the box through the valve 21 andthe pump and discharges it violently through pipe 23 against the partition 12 and ponents of the oil are acted upon by the water,

and are converted into sludge, emulsion and aqueous solution for subsequent removal. The violence of the movement indicated is of value in speeding up the action which would otherwise take place more slowly. Ordinary water admission to the oil would not be sufficient and the extent of action which takes place in a given time is dependent upon both the thoroughness of the mixing and upon the amount of water present.

The apparatus is now ready for continuous operation. The oil and water inletvalves 17 and 18 are opened to an adjusted extent, the proportion of Water to oil being determined visually at the sight feed funnel 1 1 Accurate adjustment is unnecessary. By this arrangement the air inlet, except through the 9 water, can be reduced and controlled as is ordinarily very desirable.

The violence of agitation within the U compartment is controlled by adjusting the valves 21 and 26 but, though desirable these valves may be omitted and any-desired control function may be effected by limiting the opening available for flow to a predetermined fixed size or by control of the pump speed.

The mixture of oil, acid water, emulsion and sludge overflows the barrier 11 into the compartment 27 to discharge through pipe 28 and discharge valve 29 into the clarifying apparatus.

Normally the-valve 29 will be adjusted to the capacity of the clarifying apparatus and the inlet valves 17 and 18 will then be adjusted to prevent filling up the compartment 27 but preferably to maintain a small seal, as a head of six or seven inches, within the bottom of compartment 27 The oil may be separated from the mixture by means of a commercial centrifuge, the specific gravity of the oil being lower than that of anyof the other components of the. mixture. The specific gravity of the emulsion and sludge is between that of the oil and that of the acid water.

The mixture flows at an adjusted rate through the valve 29 into the centrifuge 30. The centrifugeconsists of a bowl revolving at a very high rate of speed, separatingby centrifugal force as is well .known in centrifuges which long since acquired a status in fresh liquor. The water, sludge and emulsion discharge from spout 31 into a waste drain 32, while the cleared oil discharges from spout 33.

If the liquid be supplied to the centrifuge faster than the latter, can separate the componentsthe excess overflows through a' spout 34. Such excess overflow may be caught for.

subsequent return to the centrifuge or discharge to waste as shown in the figures. In normal careful operation any excess overflow will be of such little moment that I prefer to have the spout 34 discharge to the waste drain, as shown in the figures.

If the-oil is very acid a single centrifuge may not clear it and it should then be further clarified, as by passing through another centrifuge or, as shown in Figure 1, by passing it through a colloidal filter 35.

The commercial colloidal filter comprises a metal box 36 in which the filtering element 37 comprisesa stack of concentric discs, spaces between successive discs are of the order of 0.00001". These spaces pass oil but are too small to pass sludge and emulsion.

- In Figure 1 the centrifuge 30 is shown discharging its oil through spout 33 into a box 37 from which it is pumped through the colloidal filter and returned to the main system through pipe 38. This is shown as effected bypuinp 39. The suction of the pump is preferably kept sealed from the air, as by means of a float 40 within the box 37, controlling a valve 41 in the inlet pipe 42 of the pump. A check valve 43 may be inserted either in the pipe 38 or the pipe 42 to prevent any reversal of flow when the pump is stopped.

The filter is provided with a drain pipe @4 valved at 19.

In Figure 1 I have shown the cover above the inlet side of the U compartment bolted down liquid tight to prevent theliquor from splashing from under the cover and reasonably to prevent inlet of air where it would be taken up freely by the liquid. However, there is not the same reason for excluding air from the outlet side. Consequently over 7 the outlet side of the U compartment and above the compartment 27 the cover ordinarily need not be tight and as itis desirable to be able to see flow conditions beneath this latter cover it may be pivoted or may otherwise be fitted readily to lift aside.

I show in Figure 1 a heating coil 45 within the water washer box and a valve 46 for controlling the temperature of the coil. 'Ordinarily this heating coil will not be used except with heavy oils when it is desirable to raise the temperature to secure reasonably rapid separation in the centrifuge and the heating coil shown provides a convenient means for raising the temperature.

Figure 2 shows the water washer on a continuous bypass system. The reservoir 47 is in the main oil circulation system of a turbine or other machine, being filled with oil to a level 48. The oil is pumped from thereservoir 47 by pump 49 through discharge pipe 50 to the bearings of the unit and after service in the bearings the oil returns by return pipe 51. The oil supply pipe 15 to the water washer connects with the reservoir 47 near the return pipe 51. The washer-itself, as a unit is shown as of the same character as that in Figure 1.

After being clarified from its acid components the oil is pumped back into the reservoir by the pump 39. No colloidal filter is shown in Figure 2 and but a single centrifuge. lVhere the oil is very acid it 'may be desirable to pass the liquor from the washer through a number of centrifuges in series, as indicated in Figure 2 where the individual centrifuges are shown as of the" same type as in Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 3 shows the inlet and outlet pipes 15 and 38 respectively of the corrective apparatus connecting directly into the return pipe 51 upon oppositesides of a valve 52. In this arrangement any portion or all of the stream of oil flowing through the pipe 51 may be sent through the corrective apparatus by proper adjustment of the valves 52 and 17. Normally the flow of oil through the corrective circuit will be very much less than through the main return pipe 51 so that where all or even a considerable proportion of the mainflow is directed through the corrective system the number and sizes of the centrifuges used will have to be increased, and Figure 3 shows a number of centrifuges of the same conventional type as in the'other figures separately valve-controlled and operating in parallel. Figure 3 illustrates the same construction otherwise as Figure 3 but with the centrifuges in series-parallel. The feeding funnels 53 are shown merely to show the directions of movement of the fluids.

Figure 4 illustrates a batchsystem. The i filter 35 and for the transfer of purified oil -to the lateral inlet into pipe 51 in Figure 3.

tion products from the oil and continuously "Where desired, check valves may be applied to prevent return of oil in the system.

It will be obvious that my disclosure will suggest to others skilled in the art other ways of applying the principles disclosed suited to the whim of the designer or special needs by which the benefit of my invention may be obtained without copying the forms shown and it ismy purpose therefore to cover herein all such as come within the reasonable spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus'described my invention, what I claim as newand desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. The process of treating oil to improve its qualities for service in lubrication which consists in withdrawing the oil from its duty, water-washing the oil with suflicient intensity to convert acid products of decomposition into emulsion or sludge, removing the emulsion or sludge, and returning the oil to duty. 7

2. The process of treating oil at an intermission in its use to improve its qualities for service in lubrication which consists in continuously withdrawin the oil from its duty, intensively s'ubjectmg the oilto circulation in the presence of a quantity of water to develop deterioration products due to its acidity, separating the water and deteriorareturning the oil to its lubricating uses.

3. The process of treating oil at an intermission in its use to improve its qualities for service in lubrication which consists in withdrawing the oilfrom itsduty, intensively subjecting the oil to circulation in the' presence of a quantity of water, separating the water and deterioration products from the oil and returning the oil to its lubricating uses. v

4. The process oftreating oil at an intermission in its use to improve its qualities for service in lubrication which consists in withdrawing the oil from its duty, intensively increasin the deterioration of the oil by the formation of emulsion in it, removing the deterioration products from the oil and returning the oil to lubricating uses;

5. The process of treating oil at an intermission in itsuse to improve its qualities for service in lubrication which consists in withdrawing oil from circulation in the machine which it lubricates, violently circulating the oil, with water and separating the deterioration products evidenced from the oil.

6. The process of preventing deposition of sludge and emulsion within the main circuit of a circulating lubricating oil system which consists in temporarily removing the oil from the main circuit and in subjecting the oil removed to intensive emulsifying influences resulting in deposition from the oil external of the main circuit.

7. The process of preventing deposition of sludge and emulsion within the main circuit of a circulating lubricating oil system which consists in temporarily removing the oil from the main circuit, in adding a quantity of water to the oil, in intensively circulating the oil and water while having the oil make contact with metal surfaces, in clarifying and returning the oil removed to the main circuit, and in repeating the process with fresh oil from the main circuit.

8. The process of treating oil to develop and to remove oxidation acid products, which consists in mixing oil with water, impinging the oil and water against-a metal surface to change the acid products into sludge and emulsion and in separating the sludge and emulsion from the oil and water.

9. The process of treating oil to develop and to remove oxidation acid products, which consists in mixing oil with water free from sodium and impinging the oil and water against a metal surface to thoroughly mix the 011 and water and thus change the acid products into sludge and emulsion and in separating the sludge and emulsion from the oil and water.

10. The process of loosening the bond between oxidation acid products in oil and the oil which consists in mixing the oil with water and causing the mixed oil and water to impinge against a metal surface. 7

11. The process of treating oil at an intermission in its use to improve its quality for service in lubrication which consists in withdrawing the oil from its duty and in loosening the bond between the sludge and emulsion in the oil on one hand and the remaining oil on the other hand by intensive water-Washmg. I

12. The process of treating oil at an intermission in its use to improve its quality for service in lubrication, which consistsin withdrawing the oil from its duty and in anticipating the forming of deterioration product's by intensive subjection of the oil to deteriorating influences of the same character as those to which it is subjected at its duty.

13. The process of treating oil flowing in a circuitthrough machine bearings for the purpose of purifying used oil by the removal therefrom of sludge-forming impurities which are soluble in the oil at the temperature to which it is heated in its flow through the liiil bearings, which comprises diverting used oil from the circuit, mixing the diverted oil w1th water so intimately and in such proportion as will cause the water to so react with said impurities as to throw them out of solution with the oil and form an insoluble'sludge in mechanical admixture with the oil, subjecting said mechanical admixture of oil and sludge to the action of centrifugal force and effecting their separation, removing the-separated sludge and returning the desludged purified oil to the circuit.

14. A lubricating oil system and an intensive auxiliary continuously-operative water washer for the oil connected with the system.

15. A lubricating oil system and an intenslve auxlliary continuously-operative means for removing the emulsifiable .elements for formation of deteriorating oxidation products within the system.

16. In combination with a lubricating oil system, an intensive auxiliary water washer for oil, an oil clarifier, and means for passing oil out of the system successively through the washer and clarifier and back into the system.

17. A lubricating oil system, an intensive Water Washer for oil, a centrifuge, and means for passing oil out of the system successively through the washer intensively and through the centrifuge and back into the systerm.

18. A main lubricating system, an auxiliary-oiLcircuit including a portion of the main circuit, an intensive mixing device for mixing the o11 w1th water anda clarifier for the oil, both within the auxiliary circuit.

19. A main lubricating system, an auxiliary oil circuit including a portion of the t 40.

main .circuit, an intensivewater washer for the oil and a centrifuge serving the auxiliary circuit.

20. A main lubricating system, an auxiliary oil circuit including a portion of the main circuit, an intensive water washer for the oil and clarifying devices in series served by the Washer.

21. A main lubricating system, and an auxiliary oil circuit including a portion of the main circuit, an intensive water-washing device for the oil, aheating'device for the oil, an oil clarifier, and oil circulating means for the auxiliary circuit.

\ 22. In oil corrective apparatus, a mixing chamber for oil and water and means for mixing the oil and water intensively and for causing mixed oil and water to impinge against a metal surface.

- 'NEVIN E. FUNK. 

